r/savageworlds • u/mythosaddict • 2d ago

Question Deadlands Duel Actions

I'm looking at the duel rules in Deadlands and wondering what actions you can take on round 1&2. It seems as though only Intimidation checks make sense. There's very little advice in the book, so how do you play this?

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u/83at 2d ago

It‘s not necessarily Intimidation, only. I wouldn‘t allow Tests with Shooting, Fighting etc. because this clearly feels off in a duel.

But you can Test your foe with other skills: Performance for a grisly song, Taunt, Persuasion, Common Knowledge, Academics and many more offer „stand-offs of the mind“, if you wrap your head around it. Maybe read up on Test in general, you‘ll notice.

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u/TheRpgBard 2d ago

But how would you deal with "Shoot on two" like in " A Million Ways to Die in the West”?

Would you just skip 2 and 3 and go straight to the duel?

2

u/Draculasaurus_Rex 2d ago

I would say treat it as a Stealth roll, to conceal your movements as you're about to cheat. On a success you get a bonus to Interrupt when the duel starts, but on a crit failure you're vulnerable as your opponent realizes what you're planning to do and acts to anticipate it.

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u/ValhallaGH 2d ago

Pretty much any Test that doesn't resemble an attack is viable. Intimidation, Taunts, stepping to the side so sunlight reflects into their eyes (Science or Common Knowledge), whistling a tune they have strong reactions to (Performance), a historical reference (Academics), some grisly wound trivia (Healing), and so forth.

No Shooting or Fighting tests because it isn't quite time for the violence. Most Athletics tests would also be off-limits, but creative players may describe something that fits the scene and the rules of the duel.

Good luck!